The Sunshine Empire

I was watching some of the Iowa Democratic Party Jefferson-Jackson Day event, and all those present gave their stump speeches to cheers from their supporters.  As always though I develop my long standing rage over why this state is deamed worthy of this attention.  My home state has had eplicit orders come down from from the space cadet they put in charge of the DNC that nobody step foot in the damn state and don’t you dare do any campaigning there.  They dared to think they where more important than the bucolic wonderland that is Iowa. 

But I’ve discussed that in length and will not beat a dead donkey, but that brought to mind an honest question.  When a state violates the primary schedule set out by the party in the Democratic party, you lose all of your delegates to the nominating convention.  But the Republican party’s process only revokes half of the delegates from a particular state.  Everyone knows that whoever the eventual nominee is from both parties, they will seat the Florida or Michigan delgations in the interest in party unity.  But I am really interested in why the Republicans only revoke half.  I mean this not in a partisan way, or one to say the Republican plan is bad and the Democratic one is good, I’m just honestly interested in the reasoning for the difference.  The RNC has also not prohibited their candidates from campaigning in these states.  I think it is a titanic blunder on the part of the Democratic party to allow Ken Doll, Rudy, and Grandpa McCain to come into the crux of the 2000 election and keep your people out. 

For the Republicans though, I really wonder how you split your delegation.  It’s got to be like cutting a football player that has a load of heart, has a moter that always runs, and sucks in an almost poetic manner.  Do you just draw straws to see who get’s to go to Minniapolis in the summer. 

With the conventions coming just this summer, and Iowa set to vote practically three days from now, it is finally starting to be appropriate to talk about the Presidential campaing and it not be as ridiculous as Walgreens having Christmas decorations up before Halloween.